Six principal by-elections took place yesterday. In Gedling ward (Gedling BC), which is five miles north east of Nottingham, the Liberal Democrats were unlucky not to hold on to the seat they’ve held since 2003. Maggie Dunkin, who represented the ward until three years ago, missed out by just 54 votes. She came second with 28.9% but was pipped to the post by the Labour candidate who won with 32.6%. UKIP who haven’t stood in the ward for seven years came third on 22.8%. Conservatives saw a 12.6% drop in their vote share to come last.
A by-election held in Chalgrove and Watlington division of Oxfordshire saw the Liberal Democrat vote share jump 12.4% on the result last May. The Conservatives held onto the seat with 41.8% despite their vote dropping by nearly 16%. UKIP came third with 14.9%. Both Labour and the Greens saw their vote shares decrease to come fourth and fifth respectively.
In Flyde the local Ratepayers won an impressive 65.7% of the vote to gain a seat previously held by an Independent councillor. The Conservatives saw their vote share drop by nearly 24% to come second with 16.7%. The Liberal Democrat vote was also squeezed by the Flyde Ratepayers and saw Carol Gilligan come fourth behind UKIP. The Greens stood with a “Stop Fracking Now” description on the ballot paper. Despite fracking being a huge issue locally they failed to connect with local voters and came last with 4.3%.
Labour successfully defended two seats in Dartford and Sunderland. Despite Labour winning St Anne’s ward of Sunderland with over 70% of the vote just two years ago their vote dropped by 24% as UKIP secured 28.2%. In Stone ward, Dartford just 119 votes separated the winning and last candidates. The Labour/Tory marginal saw Labour hold on; perhaps thanks to UKIP who came third with 27.2%. The Liberal Democrats did not stand candidates in either contest.
The SNP retained their seat in Kimarnock North after four rounds of voting.
Two Town Council by-elections were reported to ALDC. Julian Halls retained Cromwells ward of Wymondham Town Council for the Liberal Democrats with 50.8% of the vote. The by-election was called following the resignation of longstanding councillor Di Hockaday who was sadly struck down by a stroke in November. Ms Hockaday served the area and the Party with great distinction over many years at different levels. She is a former district and county councillor and was Chairman of Norfolk CC for a year in the 90s. She had a substantial personal vote in this Conservative facing ward which made retaining the seat even more of an achievement. It is also an encouraging result from which to gain the District seat next year. The Conservatives retained a seat on Earley Town Council.
During March the Liberal Democrats have a net gain of one seat, the Conservatives are down one and Labour end the month with as many councillors as they started with. UKIP did not win any by-elections and were not defending any seats.
For all the detailed results see the ALDC elections page: https://www.aldc.org/category/by-election-results/